Body Found Inside Tanning Bed at Indianapolis Planet Fitness, Investigation Underway
A tragic discovery was made on Monday morning at a Planet Fitness in Indianapolis when a man’s body was found inside one of the gym’s tanning beds. The victim has been identified as 39-year-old Derek Sink, who had been missing since Friday.
According to The Indianapolis Star, Sink last made contact with his family on Friday, and his whereabouts were unknown until the disturbing find at the gym on Hardegan Street. Shortly after the gym opened on Monday, a member reported a strong, unpleasant odor emanating from the tanning area, which seemed to get stronger near the tanning rooms. This led to the discovery of the body inside the tanning bed.
Elizabeth Len, a gym-goer, told WTHR that she was puzzled by the situation. “The tanning bed has a door, I believe, but still, why are we not concerned that the tanning bed has been closed for three days, potentially?” she said.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office later confirmed that the body was Sink’s, but the cause of death has not yet been determined. Sink had a known history of substance abuse, and drug paraphernalia was found in the tanning room, according to his family. Court records show that Sink had been under a GPS ankle monitor at the time of his death, following a 2023 charge for narcotics possession. He had pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to home detention, where he was required to undergo drug testing.
In response to the incident, Sink’s family is advocating for increased safety measures at the gym, including stricter cleaning protocols and the implementation of an end-of-day checklist for staff. They hope this could prevent future tragedies.
Planet Fitness expressed its condolences in a statement. McCall Gosselin, the company’s chief corporate affairs officer, told People, “We were deeply saddened by the passing of one of our members, and the franchise owner is working with the local authorities in their investigation.”
Gosselin emphasized that the safety and well-being of members is a top priority and that the company has operational protocols in place. The gym is working with the local franchisee to ensure adherence to these standards.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office and Planet Fitness are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sink’s death.
